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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tim Walz Said We Need To "Bully The Sh—t Out" Of Donald Trump And It's REALLY Making MAGA Mad
We've long discussed left-leaners repeatedly expressing fatigue with the Democratic Party over what they perceive to be a lack of effort displayed by its leaders. Well, it looks like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is starting to agree. During a May speech at the South Carolina Democratic Party's annual convention, Walz referred to President Donald Trump as a "wannabe dictator" before suggesting, "Maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner. Maybe it's time for us to be a little more fierce." Twitter: @mmpadellan Speaking from his experience as a former teacher, Walz continued, "The thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully... And when it's a child, you talk to them and you tell them why bullying is wrong." Related: A Republican's Response To A "Tax The Rich" Chant At His Town Hall Is Going Viral "But when it's an adult like Donald Trump," he said, "you bully the shit out of him back." "Because at heart, this is a weak, cruel man that takes it out and punches down at people. What they don't want to do is stand toe to toe and punch back with someone who's calling them out for what they do." Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" — 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It And this isn't the first time Walz has expressed a need for Dems to "fight back." Just two months ago, the former vice presidential hopeful shared a video of Americans expressing grievances under the Trump Administration with the title "Tim Walz: It's time to fight back." "I think elected officials have been too damn timid to not stand up for these things. Bullshit," he says in the video. "It's good stuff that makes a difference." Well! One peek at the comment section under Walz's South Carolina speech will show you how deeply MAGA is rallying against his words. But what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real Also in In the News: Miss USA's 2024 "National Costume" Has Been Revealed, And It's Obviously An Interesting Choice Also in In the News: One Body Language Expert Spotted Something Very Telling When Donald Trump "Held His Own Hand" At His Recent Press Conference
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - The Democrats' new campaign agenda: No more Mister Nice Guy
The long process of selecting the next Democratic presidential nominee is beginning, with potential candidates speaking already to gatherings of party faithful. 'We can — and we must — condemn Donald Trump's reckless actions,' Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) told about 800 people at the South Carolina Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Dinner. The nation's only Black governor said Democrats must also advance their own agenda and be 'the party of action,' supporting policies that will quickly improve the lives of Americans. Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), last year's Democratic vice presidential nominee, told the South Carolina Democratic Convention that Democrats should 'be a little meaner' in standing up to what he called President Trump's bullying. He then flew across the country to speak to the California Democratic Convention and urged Democrats 'to find some goddamn guts to fight for working people,' because the party 'lost a big chunk of the working class' in last year's election. 'That last election was a primal scream on so many fronts,' he said. Neither Moore, Walz, nor any other Democrat has announced a 2028 presidential run so far, but Democrats have many excellent potential candidates. Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) may seek the presidency a second time or run for governor of California in 2026. Other Democrats who may run for president include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and several others. Democrats are trying to figure out the winning recipe to cook up some wins following Republican victories last year. However, Republicans would like nothing better than to make former President Joe Biden's alleged mental decline in office — something Biden strongly denies — a major issue in their campaigns. I have known Biden for decades and believe he was an outstanding president. But debating his fitness for office is pointless. He will never run for office again. Democrats must look ahead, because voters will cast ballots for candidates they believe will give them a better future. Trump and congressional Republicans are doing an abysmal job governing. They embrace policies that threaten our liberties and the rule of law, give the richest Americans unjustified tax cuts and make massive cuts to vital government programs that benefit millions of people. They have eliminated hundreds of thousands of federal employees' jobs and support huge tariffs that raise consumer prices, reduce American exports and force U.S. businesses to lay off workers. Their legislation also harms our health and environment, weakens colleges and universities and ends diversity, equity and inclusion programs that open the door to the American Dream wider. They have worsened relations with other nations, endangered U.S. national security and seek to deport 1 million unauthorized immigrants, often without due process, and weaken freedom of the press and speech. Democrats should explain, in easily understandable language, how they would replace extremist Trump policies with better ones. For example, Democrats should point out that Trump and Republicans are prioritizing GOP tax cuts that would bring little or no benefit to most Americans. The Internal Revenue Service reports that in 2022 the 1 percent of taxpayers with the highest incomes paid about 40.4 percent of federal income taxes, while the top 50 percent of taxpayers paid 97 percent of all federal individual income taxes. The 50 percent of taxpayers with the lowest incomes paid only 3 percent of income taxes. This means that Trump's tax cuts would save the richest Americans millions of dollars every year, but would save most Americans little or nothing. And Democrats should accept the reality that in swing congressional districts and states, they need independent and sometimes a slice of moderate Republican votes to win elections. Embracing far-left progressive policies will help Republicans get elected. Rather than fighting over ideological purity, Democrats should focus on defeating Republicans. Democrats also need to reach out to low-turnout young voters and people of color with every method available. Personal contact is more effective than paid ads in reaching nonvoters. Beyond any speculation about 2028 and the presidential race, Democrats should first prioritize this year's statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and then the 2026 midterm elections for Congress, state legislatures and governorships. Nearly half the members of the House and Senate are former state legislators. Capturing at least one house of Congress would give Democrats the power to block some of Trump's legislative initiatives, call on administration officials to testify under oath and file lawsuits against illegal and unconstitutional actions by Trump. Democrats have an excellent chance of winning control of the House in 2026. Republicans now have a slim majority of 220 to 212. Three vacancies were created by the deaths of Democratic members, who are likely to be replaced by other Democrats in special elections. The president's party has lost House seats in 18 of the 20 midterm elections since the end of World War II. We don't know how popular Trump will be in 2026, but I'm betting his popularity falls as his policies hurt growing numbers of Americans, dragging down Republican candidates with him. A Gallup poll found that Trump had a public approval rating of 43 percent in May and a disapproval rating of 53 percent. The only post-World War II president with a lower approval rating in May after being elected was Trump himself, with an approval rating of 39 percent in May 2017. Democrats will have a harder time winning a Senate majority than taking control of the House, but good candidates attuned to their state's electorates can help to prove the political prognosticators wrong. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Thirty-five seats will be on the ballot in 2026, 23 of which are held by Republicans. Democrats had an awful 2024, marked by election defeats. America and the world are having an awful 2025 as a result of Trump's erratic, incompetent and dangerous leadership and Republicans' blind loyalty. Democrats are tired of looking back at what went wrong last year. We are rebuilding the party, holding town halls in Republican congressional districts where Republicans are too scared to do so and filing lawsuits challenging Trump's efforts to govern by executive order as if he were a king. A new era is beginning for Democrats. I look forward to better days ahead when my party starts winning elections against the radical Republicans who have abandoned Ronald Reagan's principled conservatism and embraced Trump and his MAGA movement's reckless extremism. Donna Brazile is a political strategist, a contributor to ABC News and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. She is the author of 'Hacks: Inside the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
The Democrats' new campaign agenda: No more Mister Nice Guy
The long process of selecting the next Democratic presidential nominee is beginning, with potential candidates speaking already to gatherings of party faithful. 'We can — and we must — condemn Donald Trump's reckless actions,' Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) told about 800 people at the South Carolina Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Dinner. The nation's only Black governor said Democrats must also advance their own agenda and be 'the party of action,' supporting policies that will quickly improve the lives of Americans. Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), last year's Democratic vice presidential nominee, told the South Carolina Democratic Convention that Democrats should 'be a little meaner' in standing up to what he called President Trump's bullying. He then flew across the country to speak to the California Democratic Convention and urged Democrats 'to find some goddamn guts to fight for working people,' because the party 'lost a big chunk of the working class' in last year's election. 'That last election was a primal scream on so many fronts,' he said. Neither Moore, Walz, nor any other Democrat has announced a 2028 presidential run so far, but Democrats have many excellent potential candidates. Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D) may seek the presidency a second time or run for governor of California in 2026. Other Democrats who may run for president include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and several others. Democrats are trying to figure out the winning recipe to cook up some wins following Republican victories last year. However, Republicans would like nothing better than to make former President Joe Biden's alleged mental decline in office — something Biden strongly denies — a major issue in their campaigns. I have known Biden for decades and believe he was an outstanding president. But debating his fitness for office is pointless. He will never run for office again. Democrats must look ahead, because voters will cast ballots for candidates they believe will give them a better future. Trump and congressional Republicans are doing an abysmal job governing. They embrace policies that threaten our liberties and the rule of law, give the richest Americans unjustified tax cuts and make massive cuts to vital government programs that benefit millions of people. They have eliminated hundreds of thousands of federal employees' jobs and support huge tariffs that raise consumer prices, reduce American exports and force U.S. businesses to lay off workers. Their legislation also harms our health and environment, weakens colleges and universities and ends diversity, equity and inclusion programs that open the door to the American Dream wider. They have worsened relations with other nations, endangered U.S. national security and seek to deport 1 million unauthorized immigrants, often without due process, and weaken freedom of the press and speech. Democrats should explain, in easily understandable language, how they would replace extremist Trump policies with better ones. For example, Democrats should point out that Trump and Republicans are prioritizing GOP tax cuts that would bring little or no benefit to most Americans. The Internal Revenue Service reports that in 2022 the 1 percent of taxpayers with the highest incomes paid about 40.4 percent of federal income taxes, while the top 50 percent of taxpayers paid 97 percent of all federal individual income taxes. The 50 percent of taxpayers with the lowest incomes paid only 3 percent of income taxes. This means that Trump's tax cuts would save the richest Americans millions of dollars every year, but would save most Americans little or nothing. And Democrats should accept the reality that in swing congressional districts and states, they need independent and sometimes a slice of moderate Republican votes to win elections. Embracing far-left progressive policies will help Republicans get elected. Rather than fighting over ideological purity, Democrats should focus on defeating Republicans. Democrats also need to reach out to low-turnout young voters and people of color with every method available. Personal contact is more effective than paid ads in reaching nonvoters. Beyond any speculation about 2028 and the presidential race, Democrats should first prioritize this year's statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and then the 2026 midterm elections for Congress, state legislatures and governorships. Nearly half the members of the House and Senate are former state legislators. Capturing at least one house of Congress would give Democrats the power to block some of Trump's legislative initiatives, call on administration officials to testify under oath and file lawsuits against illegal and unconstitutional actions by Trump. Democrats have an excellent chance of winning control of the House in 2026. Republicans now have a slim majority of 220 to 212. Three vacancies were created by the deaths of Democratic members, who are likely to be replaced by other Democrats in special elections. The president's party has lost House seats in 18 of the 20 midterm elections since the end of World War II. We don't know how popular Trump will be in 2026, but I'm betting his popularity falls as his policies hurt growing numbers of Americans, dragging down Republican candidates with him. A Gallup poll found that Trump had a public approval rating of 43 percent in May and a disapproval rating of 53 percent. The only post-World War II president with a lower approval rating in May after being elected was Trump himself, with an approval rating of 39 percent in May 2017. Democrats will have a harder time winning a Senate majority than taking control of the House, but good candidates attuned to their state's electorates can help to prove the political prognosticators wrong. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Thirty-five seats will be on the ballot in 2026, 23 of which are held by Republicans. Democrats had an awful 2024, marked by election defeats. America and the world are having an awful 2025 as a result of Trump's erratic, incompetent and dangerous leadership and Republicans' blind loyalty. Democrats are tired of looking back at what went wrong last year. We are rebuilding the party, holding town halls in Republican congressional districts where Republicans are too scared to do so and filing lawsuits challenging Trump's efforts to govern by executive order as if he were a king. A new era is beginning for Democrats. I look forward to better days ahead when my party starts winning elections against the radical Republicans who have abandoned Ronald Reagan's principled conservatism and embraced Trump and his MAGA movement's reckless extremism. Donna Brazile is a political strategist, a contributor to ABC News and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. She is the author of 'Hacks: Inside the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Black Democrats Fume over 2024 While ‘Searching for a Leader' in 2028
Sam Wolfe/For The Washington Post Former DNC chair Jaime Harrison speaks during the South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina. COLUMBIA, South Carolina – A mostly Black crowd of hundreds of Democrats erupted in cheers when former national party chairman Jaime Harrison urged them to 'go on offense' and energize their communities to propel a 'blue Democratic wave' in next year's midterms. But offstage Saturday, Harrison was still wrestling with the problems of the last election. 'I feel like, as chair, my voice was not always heard, that I was taken for granted. I was seen as somebody to just rubber stamp and not to actually have a seat at the table to influence certain things,' Harrison said in an interview with The Washington Post on the sidelines of the South Carolina Democratic Party's annual convention. 'And that has to change.' Black Democratic leaders and activists are filled with apprehension as they try to regroup more than six months after a dispiriting defeat that ignited lingering frustrations, recriminations and disagreements about what went wrong and what the party should do differently as it eyes elections in 2026 and 2028. They are eager for the party to rally around a hopeful message and a clearer plan for combating President Donald Trump and Republicans. But they don't yet see a clear standard-bearer to help them turn the tide. 'Trump took all our steam out of us and we're still searching for a leader right now,' said Daryl Scott, a retired Army veteran from Myrtle Beach who attended the state Democratic convention. 'There's none. Name one. Where are they? They feel embarrassed because they didn't deliver.' Tensions came into sharp focus this past weekend in South Carolina, a longtime early nominating state and major power center for some of the party's most influential Black leaders. In interviews with more than two dozen Black elected officials, strategists, candidates and activists, many said they felt national Democratic leaders took Black voters for granted in 2024. Some said they felt betrayed by parts of the Democratic base, such as Latino voters, who didn't show up as forcefully for Kamala Harris as they had hoped. Others expressed disappointment in former president Joe Biden's decision to run for a second term and strategic decisions Harris's campaign made after she replaced him on the ticket. Harrison expressed anger about the result of the election, troubled by indicators that some Black voters stayed home or supported Trump. He supported Biden vocally, including when others called on him to step aside sooner amid concerns about his age and acuity, and rallied behind Harris when she became the party's nominee. But he suggested some of their advisers ignored his ideas about how to sell voters on Democratic policy wins. 'We can't just be nice ornaments,' said Harrison, who opted to not seek reelection as head of the Democratic National Committee when his term ended earlier this year. 'We actually have to have a substantive and real role in terms of directing this party and moving this party forward.' While other corners of the party are engaged in similar bouts of blame and self-doubt, the discussions among Black Democrats are especially pertinent. They have played a major role in determining the Democratic presidential nominee for decades; and Black voters have been the most loyal members of the party's coalition – supporting the nominee in general elections more than any other racial or ethnic group. Although few blamed Biden directly for the party's malaise, some Black Democrats said he shouldn't have run for a second term and should have made good on his pledge to build a 'bridge' to the next generation of leaders. Others, like Harrison, the first Black chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, and Rep. James E. Clyburn, a beloved elder among Black Democrats, defended Biden throughout the weekend of events. The release of recent books has reignited a debate about whether Biden's inner circle hid information about his health from the public. Speaking with reporters at his annual 'world-famous fish fry,' Clyburn sought to shut down a question about Biden's health and the election. 'Who's talking about that? Well, this is the first time I've heard that in the last three weeks. I've been all over the state at town halls,' he said. Catherine Fleming Bruce, a Democratic activist running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), said she wished there had been an open primary because Democrats should be 'making sure that we have Democratic processes at all times' – and Biden dropping out so late meant there wasn't enough time for Harris to win over skeptics. Harris, the first Black woman to accept a major party's nomination for president, after Biden ended his campaign in July, overwhelmingly won over Black voters. But by some measures, including the reputable AP VoteCast voter surveys, she won a smaller share of them than Biden did in 2020. A recent analysis from Democratic data firm Catalist found that Black men shifted toward Republicans, with Harris performing seven percentage points worse among them than Biden did in 2020. Sitting Saturday at the back of the building in the South Carolina State Fairgrounds listening to statewide candidates at the convention, Scott said the priority for Democrats is to win elections in Virginia and New Jersey this November and then in the 2026 midterms. But the party badly needs a national leader who 'can deliver for all of us,' he added. Black Democrats survey a wide-open 2028 field With the 2028 field wide open, a pair of potential presidential candidates visited the state, swinging by the state party's Blue Palmetto Dinner fundraiser and the fish fry hosted by Clyburn on Friday night. The visits from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz were early opportunities to connect with South Carolina's Black voters, who make up roughly half the state's Democratic electorate and helped power Biden's rise in 2020. Moore, the nation's only current Black governor, urged Democrats to become 'the party of 'yes' and 'now' ' during a hopeful speech at the dinner fundraiser. He encouraged them to move quickly to deliver policy wins as he accused the Trump administration of 'actively divesting from our Black communities, dismantling our minority business programs, and banning books about our history.' 'In 10 years, our success will be measured not by how much we resisted, or how loud we yelled. Our success will be measured in the results we deliver to make life better for people,' Moore said in his speech. Afterward, some attendees spoke positively about his pitch. In an interview with The Post, Moore said he didn't think Trump made gains with Black voters 'because he figured something out that Democrats didn't. I think he gained a vote share because he just exposed the fact that Democrats weren't figuring it out.' 'It's not like he offered anything new or interesting or innovative. He just simply said, 'What are they doing? How are they benefiting your life?' Moore said. 'Trump was a fantastic vessel for the frustration.' Beyond concerns from some about Biden's age and acuity, Black voters, like other demographic groups, were vocal about their economic frustrations – even as Biden made significant gains in reducing unemployment, boosting funding for Black-owned businesses and creating jobs for Black Americans during his presidency. Biden spokesperson Kelly Scully said that Biden and Harris made 'important progress' for Black Americans, touting some of his economic achievements and others, including capping the cost of insulin for seniors and canceling billions of dollars in student loan debt. 'President Biden believes that while progress was made, the work to make the promise of America real for Black communities must continue,' Scully said. A spokesperson for Harris did not respond to a request for comment. Trump used targeted advertising, occasional outreach events and support from some high-profile Black celebrities as he vowed to deliver a strong economy with more opportunities for Black Americans. He promoted his mug shot and said Black voters liked him more because of it and his criminal indictments. Trump has spoken for years with inflammatory and sometimes racist remarks about Black Americans that have drawn widespread condemnation. Biden and his campaign argued that the prospect of Trump returning to the White House meant risking 'all progress, all freedom, all opportunities.' But polls showed Black Americans' support for Biden was down, particularly among young voters, even before he ended his campaign last summer after a disastrous debate where he repeatedly appeared to lose his train of thought. When Harris replaced Biden on the ticket, she initially generated excitement, but later struggled to address concerns that Democrats failed to deliver on promises, such as overhauling the criminal justice system. Black Democrats beyond South Carolina, including younger, more liberal members of the party, have in recent years been frustrated by its stalled agenda. Concerns about slippage in support prompted former president Barack Obama weeks before the election to issue an impassioned plea to Black men to support Harris. He admonished them for thinking about sitting out the presidential contest and suggested sexism might factor in. Moore suggested Democrats' missteps with Black voters predated Trump and 2024, arguing that candidates often waited until election years to aggressively reach out to the Black community. 'It's tiring,' Moore said. Walz, who was Harris's running mate, delivered a keynote speech at the convention, where he encouraged Democrats to match Trump's tough tactics and worry less about offending people. He also challenged conservative criticism that Democrats have focused too much on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, saying, 'We focus on it because it's foundational to everything we do.' Walz drew loud cheers and a line of supporters who flocked to the side exit to take selfies and chat with him. Several praised him for speaking candidly in a speech peppered with expletives 'We're just not coming together like we should' Christale Spain, the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, reflected on the last election as she looked to the next one, saying she doesn't like the word postmortem 'because we're not dead.' Spain said the Harris campaign did not make Black voters a big enough priority as it courted centrists and moderate Republicans. 'We can't lose our most dependable base because we're chasing rainbows,' she said. 'You've gotta know where your bread is buttered. Invest there.' Many Black Democrats who aired frustrations were also quick to praise Biden and Harris for their service. Some spoke fondly about the former president's decades-long commitment to their community and expressed well wishes for Biden as he undergoes cancer treatment. Several shied from blaming Biden or Harris for the election outcome. While Harrison criticized some in Biden's inner circle for not listening to him, he emphasized that he felt Biden himself understood the importance of having Black leaders empowered and making decisions about the party's direction and policy. In 2020, Biden said he saw himself as a 'bridge' to the next generation of Democratic leaders, which some in the party interpreted as a pledge that he would step down after one term. 'At that point, way back then, that would have given the people a full amount [of time to run], and that didn't happen,' said Bruce, the Senate candidate. Some convention attendees over the weekend said they longed for the early days of the Obama presidency when they felt more unity within the party, and before Trump, his inflammatory rhetoric and chaotic agenda had become a fixture of American politics. But they acknowledged those days were gone, and focusing on the strategies of the past probably wouldn't serve them now. Renee Boles, 62, a volunteer with the Council of Black Democrats at the convention, said she was pleased to see so many Black Democrats gathering to talk about the party's future. But she doesn't see Democrats doing that on a national scale, she said, and she struggled to name someone she would like to see run for president. 'I actually think the Democratic Party could be better at trying to get people together. We're just not coming together like we should,' she said. 'That's the sad part.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tim Walz: Democrats 'have no idea how to get stuff done,' needs to reorganize, move forward
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called for a shift in Democratic Party values and making concrete changes during a meeting of South Carolina Democrats on May 31. Thousands of voters and political leaders crammed into the Goodman Building at the state fairgrounds to hear Walz at the South Carolina Democratic Party convention, a two-day event in Columbia. The convention started with the Palmetto Blue Dinner on May 30, where Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was the featured speaker. More: Gov. Tim Walz to headline South Carolina Democrat convention More than 1,700 delegates representing each of South Carolina's counties attended this year's convention to strategize and get energized for future elections. Greenville County had 180 delegates at the convention. Walz was welcomed with a standing ovation on the convention's second day. Walz was catapulted onto the national stage after running for vice president in 2024 alongside the party's presidential nominee, then-Vice President Kamala Harris. He has since emerged as a leader in the national Democratic Party and has been touring the country speaking at town halls in Republican-leaning congressional districts. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain introduced Walz onto the convention stage, where he was greeted with cheers and energetic applause from the crowd. He started off by saying it is essential for the Democratic Party to reorganize. He said the party is losing support by electing people who don't turn ideas into action when they get into office. 'Democrats, we have no shortage of good ideas,' Walz said. 'But when we get into power, we have no idea how to get stuff done.' He said it is important for the party to move forward after a loss in the 2024 presidential race and come back stronger for the midterms next year. 'This is a moment,' Walz said. 'This is a moment not just to win the election. This is a moment to transform back to the Democratic Party.' South Carolina earned the nickname 'First in the South,' which means it is often the first Southern state to hold its presidential primary. Charles Morris, the third vice chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party, said that this makes South Carolina an important player in the presidential race, particularly in former President Joe Biden's 2020 win. Biden swept the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary race in 2020, which gave him momentum leading into Super Tuesday as he competed against Bernie Sanders. 'We can't look at it that South Carolina is a red state,' Morris said. 'South Carolina can vault candidates to the presidency.' He said that it is important for the state's Democratic Party to focus on bringing in young voters who may have stayed home or voted Republican in the 2024 election. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) also spoke during the convention and called for Democrats to put in the work right now to flip more seats. 'We are going to have to start that change this year,' Clyburn said. 'We cannot wait until next year.' Spain ran unopposed for the state party's top office and will stay in her leadership role for another two years. She said her focus over the past two years has been on getting more Democratic candidates to win seats in smaller elections, like city council and school board races. 'We've got work to do, and I am going to stay the course,' Spain said. 'I am going to lay it all on the line.' Jaime Harrison, a former Democratic National Committee chair and South Carolina native, said he wants to see more Democrats run for office in the Palmetto State. 'To every single Democratic county party in this room,' Harrison said, 'my charge to you is to recruit a Democrat to run in every single race. Leave not one race uncontested.' Laura DiSabatino is originally from Pennsylvania but moved to South Carolina. This was her first time attending the state's Democratic convention as a Greenville County delegate. 'I felt like it was time for me to get involved,' DiSabatino said. 'Bringing us together is the most important part of this.' In one of the last speeches of the day, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson (D-Richland) said he has assembled an exploratory committee and is considering a run for governor. Johnson said he wants to hear from South Carolinians first to gauge their feelings about him running for office. 'I've gotten calls from Democrats nationwide about considering this opportunity,' Johnson said. 'I don't want to do anything or make any rash decisions without hearing from the people of South Carolina.' More: Judge denies bond for Greenville County resident accused of threatening congresswoman While no one has officially filed to enter the race, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) hinted at a possible run for governor several times, including at a bond hearing for a Greenville County resident accused of threatening her online. Gov. Henry McMaster, who has been in office since 2017, ends his second and final term in 2026. Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tim Walz to SC Democrats: 'This is a moment to transform' party
